Workplace Wellbeing Toolkit

A new toolkit to support New Zealand workplaces and their people to flourish was launched on World Mental Health Day by the Mental Health Foundation (MHF) and Health Promotion Agency (HPA).

The Five Ways to Wellbeing at Work Toolkit makes it easy for workplaces to support their people to build five simple actions into their daily lives to boost wellbeing and organisational productivity.

The launch coincides with the World Federation of Mental Health’s 25th World Mental Health Day which this year focuses on “Mental Health in the Workplace”.

Research shows that introducing five actions (Connect, Be Active, Keep Learning, Give and Take Notice) into daily life at work and at home can boost resilience, improve mental health and wellbeing and lower the risk of developing mental health problems.

“The toolkit takes the guess work out of using the Five Ways to Wellbeing in the workplace, taking workplaces through four steps for success and offering practical information in the form of ten fact sheets and eleven different tools,” MHF chief executive Shaun Robinson says.

“Like any health condition, mental health problems can affect a person’s functioning at work and present substantial costs to workplaces.

“We know that workplaces that prioritise mental wellbeing and take action to support their people’s mental health have better engagement, reduced absenteeism and higher productivity,” Mr Robinson says.

“The Five Ways to Wellbeing can also support workplaces to meet their health and safety obligations to manage risks to mental health and wellbeing.

“The toolkit also focuses on the role of leadership as the commitment of leaders and managers is one of the most important factors to achieving a mentally healthy workplace,” Mr Robinson says.

The Five Ways to Wellbeing were originally developed by the New Economics Foundation in the UK and adapted for New Zealand by the Mental Health Foundation. The Mental Health Foundation and the Health Promotion Agency developed the Five Ways to Wellbeing at Work Toolkit in partnership to enable New Zealand workplaces and their people to flourish.